With all the resolve they had, most of the Missouri Tigers that summoned the courage to face the media after a 21-16 loss to Iowa State attempted not to focus on an official's call in the final 30 seconds.

"It was," Martin Rucker said when asked if he felt the game was taken out of Missouri's hands. "We shouldn't have been in that position in the first place, but at the same time, we won the game."

Well, not according to the scoreboard at Jack Trice Stadium. Missouri had driven 79 yards in 12 plays and just over three minutes. They were perched just inside the Cyclone one with 26 seconds to play.